Her pilot cutter pedigree - hull lines evolved by Ed Burnett and John Raymond-Barker from one of the most famous of them, Bill Tillman’s ocean and high latitudes voyaging MISCHIEF - her deep keel, relatively low freeboard, efficient gaff cutter rig, and past and present provenance, make MORWENNA a fast, comfortable and capable boat. From her 2009 launching at the Underfall Yard, Bristol, MORWENNA has been a busy charter boat in both British and Mediterranean waters, a veteran of two Fastnet Races, and a cherished family yacht. Rescued from a period of inactivity during the pandemic by an experienced marine professional who returned 'honest finish' shine to her undoubted charms, the present owner has brought MORWENNA's appearance to arguably best ever while carefully upgrading her systems and comforts. She’s ready for either more family cruising and/ or charter in the most authentic of style.
New Wallas 30 GB diesel heater installed - New detachable semi-flexible fiberglass solar panelsHull re primed with 2 x coats International aluminium primer - Re-antifouled 2 x coats - All zincs replaced summer 2022 - New 69 s qm Classic Cream Dacron Mainsail (Sailtech-5 Planks replaced and associated woodwork - Full deck re-caulking with cotton; sealed with teak solutions compound - New aft deck lazarette hatches with LED lighting - Some new bronze fittings - All brightwork wooded; 15 coats varnish applied - All painted surfaces wooded or sanded as necessary; min 5 coats paint - Complete interior sand, paint/varnish from bilge to deckhead - 2.5 tonnes of ballast removed from fwd bilge to increase sailing balance - Auto bilge pump fitted in bilge area above - New equipment as detailed below
MORWENNA is named after St Morwenna, a Welsh Saint who crossed the Bristol Channel to Cornwall in the 5th Century and lived her life in a little Hermitage, now called Morwenstow, overlooking the Atlantic on the North Cornish Coast south of Hartland Point; on a good day she could see her native Wales. The Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters that worked the Western Approaches would pass Morwenstow on their way to meet incoming ships. MORWENNA's lines result from the deeply informed research undertaken by boatbuilder John Raymond-Barker and yacht designer Ed Burnett in creating an as near as possible 2007 replica (no drawings existed) of the 1906 Thomas Baker of Cardiff designed and built Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter MISCHIEF, which became internationally famous through her ownership from 1954 to 1968 by mountaineer, explorer and voyager H.W. "Bill" Tilman. As the MISCHIEF replica was being launched in November 2007, Raymond-Barker had already laid the keel of MORWENNA: to MISCHIEF's hull lines, but with a different deck and interior layout. After MORWENNA's launching in March 2009 she has been a successful charter boat, firstly on the south coast of England - taking part in the Fastnet Race in 2009 and 2011 - and then on Mallorca's ruggedly beautiful west coast, followed by a recent period of south coast of England family cruising in present ownership. ©2024 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.
- Larch planking - Oak centreline - Sawn oak frames c 70 mm x 130 mm @ c 550mm centres - Bronze and copper fastened - Bilge stringers 130 mm x 50 mm - Internal, fixed lead pig ballast - Full wood keel length 20 mm galvanised steel protection band - 1¾ in / 44 mm Douglas fir traditional deck; straight laid; nibbed to covering boards - Oak deck beams c 100 mm x 65 mm @ 650 mm centres - Full length beam shelf 130 x 60 mm - Iroko deck structures
GENERAL - Stanchioned, fully scuppered bulwarks; belaying cleats; iroko capping rail - All new bronze guard rail stanchions AFT DECK - Open taffrail - Bronze Panama mooring fairleads port and starboard - Galvanised and painted main sheet horse; rubber buffers - Bronze mushroom vent - Galvanised and painted rudder head fittings; iroko fashioned bush - Oak tiller - Oak Sampson posts port and starboard - 2 x Lazarette hatches COCKPIT - Well type with deck as seating - Iroko coaming - Grating in well sole - Engine Morse control and panel - Shore power socket - Deck prism in long bridge deck over chart table - Liferaft stowage chocks SIDE DECKS - 2 x Deck prisms to port; v1 x to starboard - External galvanized shroud and topmast runner chainplates - Padeyes for runners and headsail sheeting - Bronze Panama mooring fairleads port and starboard TRUNK CABIN - Iroko verticals painted - Steering compass at aft bulkhead - 1 x Bronze opening port to starboard - 2 x Bronze opening ports to port - Varnished companionway hatch with fixed ports, port and starboard - Vent fittings for diesel and Wallas stoves - Varnished iroko butterfly skylight over saloon - Bronze mushroom vent - 2 x Dorade boxes with bronze cowls MAST POSITION - At deck just fwd of trunk cabin FOREDECK - Varnished iroko forehatch; bronze portlight - Forecabin deck prisms port, mid and starboard - Forepeak deck prism forward - Bronze mushroom vent to starboard - Bowsprit bits - Knightsheads - Lofrans 12 V electric anchor windlass - Vertical chain gipsy and warping drum - 50 kg Delta type anchor stowed in bow roller - Folding fisherman anchor stowed on chocks port bow - 60 m Anchor chainm Warp rode
- Oiled Oak and white painted pine finish - Designed to comfortably sleep up to nine persons - Entry via companionway hatch - Down 6 x steps to pine cabin sole - Deckhead lighting and LED mood lightingRecent mattresses and cushions QUARTER CABIN TO PORT NAVIGATION AREA OVER ENGINE BOX - Double of single berth - Ship's electrical panel - Navigation displays - VHF Radio - Deck prism over - Chart reading light - Access to lazarette QUARTER CABIN TO STARBOARD - Double berth - Wallas heater; stowage over and under - Access to lazarette LOBBY AREA GALLEY TO PORT - 2 x Burner gas hob and oven - Athwartships work surface aft; 2 x lifting lids to - - Isotherm 130 L Fridge 12 V under - Athwartships 1.5 inset sinks fwd; mixer tap WC/ SHOWER COMPARTMENT TO STARBOARD - SaniMarin SN31 Comfort electric toiletWash basin - ShowerStowage FORWARD TO SALOON - Settee berths port and starboard; stowage under - Open and locker stowage outboard - Bookshelf - Large single drop leaf saloon table offset to starboard - Drawers under - Butterfly skylight in deckhead - Sig Marine Diesel heaterDanish style reading lights - Oil lamp MAST POSITION - Passage to forward accommodation offset to port FORWARD CABIN - Up and over berths port and starboard - Stowage shelves - Cut out steps to forehatch - Door to forepeak FOREPEAK - SaniMarin SN31 Comfort electric toiletInset wash basin; mixer tap - Stowage
RIG - Gaff Cutter Rig - Longleat Estate laminated Douglas mast with stepped topmast - Radar scanner (2021) at crosstrees - Longleat Estate Douglas fir solid boom - Laminated Douglas fir bowsprit - Laminated Douglas fir gaff - Galvanised spar fittings - All galvanised 7 x 7 rigging checked and re-sloshedAll new running rigging by MaffioliAll blocks checked and re-varnished (2021) SAILS - Horizontal cut Classic Cream Dacron mainsail (SailtechOlder vertical cut mainsail - Topsail - Vertical cut staysail - Newer, spare staysail (needs hanks) - Scotch cut jib - Scotch cut flying jib
MECHANICAL - Beta Marine 75 hp Diesel (overhauled, serviced and repaintedmm Stainless steel propeller shaft - Bronze stern log fitting, with cutlass bearing (newThree bladed fixed bronze propeller - New control panel (2023) ELECTRICAL - 1600 W 12 V Charging system - 170 Ah AGM house batteriesAh AGM start batteries% New wiringV Shore power - 2 x 100 W detachable semi-flexible fiberglass solar panelsAssociated high efficiency controller TANKAGE - Stainless steel diesel tank; 330 L - 2 x Stainless steel water tanks; 300 L total - EchoTec watermaker; engine drivenV Water pressure pump - Hot water tank aft of engine; c 30 L calorifier/ electric immersion - Grey water holding tank under galley sink; plastic; 5 L - Black water holding tank in WC compartment; plastic; 50 L OTHER - Wallas 30 GB diesel heaterVents to saloon and forecabin
NAVIGATION/ ELECTRONICS - Raymarine Quantum radarRaymarine Axiom chart plotterRaymarine ST60 wind with (new wandAirmar speed/ temperature/ depth sensor COMMUNICATIONS - Simrad AIS/ VHF; all in one unit (2021)
- 6-Person Solas canister liferaft (service was dueJon-Buoy (in service) - Flare pack - 2 x Life rings - Whale auto 1300 Gals per min bilge pump - Manual bilge pump at starboard wc compartment - Manual bilge pump at cockpit - 2 x Fire blankets - Navigation lights: port, stbd, stern and tri-colour (2021)
Sailing photos: Sally-Ann Moore 2020
